RACING: Limestone Lad has been given the green light to run in Sunday's AIG Champion Hurdle and already the race has begun to ride him in the Leopardstown feature.
The star stayer's usual partner Paul Carberry is likely to be claimed for Scottish Memories in the race and Micheal Bowe was giving nothing away yesterday about a replacement.
"Don't ask me who'll be riding - I might have to ride him myself!" he joked.
Carberry's commitment to Scottish Memories has already cost him this season as Limestone Lad won out from the Noel Meade runner in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle last month.
Barry Geraghty rode Limestone Lad to win that Fairyhouse race over two and a half miles but on Sunday Limestone Lad will be taking on some Champion Hurdle aspirants over the minimum trip.
Unlike Davenport Milenium, Stage Affair, Scottish Memories and Like-A-Butterfly, Limestone Lad has not been entered for the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.
But Bowe, son of permit holder James Bowe, confirmed yesterday: "We will give him his shot at the AIG. He deserves his chance. If he finishes fourth or fifth we'll have lost nothing. The trip is obviously too short but he is in the form of his life and deserves a chance.
"I'm not worried about what the weather brings. He doesn't need a bog. He will do a bit of work on Tuesday and then a few sharp bits. He is in great form."
Limestone Lad ran in the Bank Of Ireland Hurdle at Naas rather than the AIG last year which was eventually won by Ned Kelly.
Limestone Lad beat Ned Kelly in the Morgiana over two miles in November of 2,001 and has already won over two miles this season, at Navan in November.
One man anxious to be back for the AIG will be Norman Williamson who injured an ankle due to a fall at Kempton on Saturday.
"He has a severely bruised ankle and won't be riding anywhere for a few days," said the Turf Club medical officer, Dr Walter Halley.
Before that is Thursday's Gowran card which features the IAWS Thyestes Chase and a lot of trainers will be anxiously awaiting news of whether the topweight Foxchapel King will run.
Trainer Mouse Morris will walk the track this week before making a decision that will be vital to the possible participation of Harbour Pilot.
The latter's trainer Noel Meade said yesterday: "If Foxchapel King runs, Harbour Pilot is 50-50 to run too. But if Foxchapel doesn't, neither Harbour Pilot or The Bunny Boiler will run."
The classic winning trainer Liam Browne is set to retire at the end of the year. The 65-year-old, who won the 1982 Irish 2,000 Guineas with Dara Monarch, has also groomed top riders like Mick Kinane and Jamie Spencer in his career. Browne's son Martin is to set up on his own towards the end of the year.
Fontwell have called a precautionary inspection for 7.30am this morning to determine whether the scheduled meeting can go ahead.
